Miami, FL – September 6, 2023 – A cargo jet operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon overran a runway at Miami International Airport, resulting in five fatalities and several injuries.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Boeing 767, arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico with 32,000 pounds of cargo, landed approximately 3,750 feet past the runway threshold at about 160 knots. The jet traveled approximately 130 mph after touching down, leaving the runway, striking airport equipment, and colliding with a cleaning crew van before breaching the airport perimeter and hitting a car.
Five individuals in the van were killed, and two others, along with the driver of the car, sustained serious injuries. The two pilots experienced minor injuries.
Witnesses reported that air traffic controllers did not inform the 21 Air crew about significant tailwinds of up to 25 mph before granting landing clearance. Federal regulations stipulate that controllers must provide wind direction and speed when tailwinds are present during landing.
The NTSB's investigation remains ongoing and could take over a year to complete. Initial findings indicated that the pilots received multiple automated warnings about the aircraft's speed and terrain before landing. They initiated a go-around attempt shortly after touchdown but did not successfully deploy speed brakes or thrust reversers.
Amazon has suspended its partnership with 21 Air pending the investigation's outcomes. The airline stated it is reviewing its operational safety procedures in light of the preliminary report.